Chapter 870:
“Sort of. I punched him and broke his nose.”
Alicia remembered hearing about that incident. She narrowed her eyes and pressed, “Then why is his wife here?”
Caden was open with Alicia and shared freely. “They’re married in name only; there’s no affection between them.”
Benedict married at twenty-five to his college sweetheart after seven years together. Their union was once deemed a beautiful love story, but it ended tragically when his wife died at thirty from an illness. Tragedy struck again when, soon after, his sister was murdered, dying in the hospital alongside her unborn child.
During those dark days, Benedict was on the brink of despair, nearly ending his life. It was then that Yvonne Kelly stepped in to support him. Years later, an incident catalyzed a relationship between Benedict and Yvonne, eventually becoming public. Out of duty, he married her, though it was clear to everyone that it was merely for show.noveldrama
Alicia looked confused. “You mentioned your uncle deeply loved his first wife, but your cousin seems too old to have been born later.”
Caden clarified, “My uncle and Yvonne never had children together. Lucilla is Yvonne’s niece.”
Yvonne’s brother had a son and a daughter, with Lucilla being the younger of the two. Since Yvonne married into the Ward family, her unreliable brother often came to ask for money. Caden had intercepted him several times.
Benedict was compassionate but practical. He considered a loan or two a favor, but once he saw the pattern of never-ending requests, he firmly refused any further help. Yvonne often argued with him about this, but Benedict consistently dismissed her complaints.
Alicia furrowed her brows, deep in thought.
Caden asked, “What’s got you so curious about them?”
Raising an eyebrow, Alicia replied, “Yvonne hardly gets along with your family, yet she brings her niece to Ray’s birthday. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?”
Their tangled relationships weren’t Alicia’s concern. However, she noticed that Yvonne and Lucilla had been casting peculiar glances her way all day, prompting her desire to understand why.
Caden responded casually, “Probably because her brother is asking for money again, but my uncle isn’t inclined to help.”
Alicia nodded.
Suddenly, they heard faint sobbing from behind a slightly open door.
Caden pushed the door open to reveal a slender figure at the end of the deserted corridor. It was Lucilla, on the phone, tears in her voice. “Can you give me more time? I really don’t have any money. Please, Dad, just a bit longer.”
Exchanging looks, Alicia and Caden realized their suspicions were likely correct.
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